What do Philippines/ Filipinos Eat for Christmas?

Christmas is a big deal amongst Filipinos. It is the most anticipated season of the year and consequently, the food that comes along with it is of equal importance. Filipinos give much thought on what to serve at several Christmas parties, noche buenas (Christmas eve dinner), and media noches (new year’s eve dinner).

So what do Philippines or Filipinos eat for the Christmas season? Since it is a traditional celebration, most Filipinos would always go for traditional food. The list below includes food, not necessarily eaten only at Christmas, but is definitely served, craved, and sought after during this time.

What do Philippines/ Filipinos Eat for Christmas?

Here are 15 food/dishes that became part of the Philippine Christmas tradition. If you are already familiar with the listed items, let it serve as a guide if ever you need inspiration on what to prepare. We included links to some recipes we already have here on Pinoy Food Guide.

1. Bibingka

   
   Bibingka is a Filipino rice cake that is lined with banana leaves and traditionally cooked in a terracotta oven. You may see a few stores selling these throughout the year, but during Christmas, dozens of stores open around the town church. These bibingka vendors cater to the attendees of simbang gabi (evening/ dawn mass) who are looking for a warm snack after.

   If you want to try making bibingka at home, try our Special Bibingka Recipe.

2. Puto Bumbong

   
   Puto Bumbong is another Filipino rice cake that is traditionally made from purple rice. It is then steamed inside bamboo tubes or bumbong. Like the bibingka, puto bumbong sellers also put up stores around the town church during the Christmas season.

3. Buko Salad/ Fruit Salad/ Buko Pandan

   
   These three are types of dessert salads usually served as desserts on special occasions, especially during Christmas celebrations. Although each has slight differences on the ingredients, they are basically a mixture of fruits tossed in a cream and milk based dressing.

   You can try making these at home with these recipes: Buko Salad Recipe/ Pinoy Fruit Salad Recipe/ Easy Buko Pandan Salad Recipe

4. Pinoy Style Spaghetti

   
   You may be familiar with spaghetti dishes, but the Filipino-style (Pinoy) Spaghetti is a different breed. Here, spaghetti pasta is served with a sweet tomato-based sauce that is cooked with meat, hotdogs, and cheese.

   Filipinos usually cook a big batch of this dish during Christmas. Comically, some households would cook too much of this that it would still be served until new year’s day (and beyond).

   You can try making this spaghetti at home with this recipe: Filipino-Style Spaghetti Recipe.

5. Macaroni Salad

   
   Macaroni Salad is another pasta dish that became traditionally served at noche buenas (Christmas eve dinner). In this dish, macaroni pasta is combined with many different ingredients like meat, carrots, cheese, raisins, and more. These ingredients are then tossed over a mayonnaise-based dressing.

   If you want to try making macaroni salad at home, try two of our recipes: Simple Filipino Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe and Tuna Macaroni Salad Recipe.

6. Embutido

   
   Embutido is a Filipino meatloaf that is made with ground pork and different stuffings like ham, hotdogs, and eggs. Traditionally, it is wrapped with aluminum foil and cooked by steaming. A complex dish like this calls for a special occasion to be prepared and served, that is why you’ll usually see this during Christmas, festivals, and other events.

   If you want to try making embutido at home, try two of our recipes: Embutido Recipe and Chicken Embutido Recipe.

7. Morcon

   
   Morcon is a Spanish-inspired beef roll dish wherein braised beef is stuffed with different ingredients like carrots, hotdogs, and pickles. Like the embutido, it is also a complex dish served during special occasions like Christmas.

   If you want to know the difference between the two dishes, see this article: Morcon Vs Embutido. If you want to try making morcon at home, try our Classic Beef Morcon Recipe.

8. Queso De Bola

   
   Queso De Bola or Cheese Ball in English is simply a ball of Edam cheese coated with red wax. Edam cheese is a medium-hard cheese made with cow’s milk and is known for its nutty and sweet flavors.

   Queso De Bola has been part of the Filipino Christmas tradition due to its festive appearance. One would see these cheese balls sold in markets everywhere come Christmas time.

9. Leche Flan

   
   Leche Flan is a Filipino dessert made by steaming a mixture of egg yolks, milk, and sugar placed inside llaneras (oval tin molds). It has a smooth soft texture and has a sweet caramel taste. Due to its popularity, it is a must-serve dessert during special occasions, including Christmas.

   If you want to try making leche flan at home, try two of our recipes: Classic Leche Flan Recipe and Banana Leche Flan Recipe.

10. Christmas Ham

    
    Christmas Ham is another star in the Filipino Christmas table. It is made by curing deboned pork ham and finishing it with a sweet pineapple based glaze. Like the queso de bola, supermarkets are filled with Christmas ham or hamon during the Christmas season.

    Although, you’ll have plenty of hams to choose from, you can always try making this yourself, try our Filipino Christmas Ham Recipe.

11. Hot Chocolate

    
    Hot Chocolate or hot cocoa is a popular Christmas drink around the world. This rich hot chocolate drink is perfect for the cold weather and it is no surprise that Filipinos love this too.

    When you’re in the Philippines, you may come across two types of hot chocolate or tsokolate. Learn the difference here: Tsokolate Eh vs Tsokolate Ah.

12. Castanas

    
    Castanas or roasted chestnuts is another globally popular Christmas food that is loved by Filipinos as well. During the Christmas season, you’ll see several vendors of Castanas filling up the streets and adding delicious fragrance in the air.

13. Lumpiang Sariwa/ Lumpiang Ubod

    
    Lumpiang sariwa or fresh egg roll is a type of vegetable dish usually served on many Filipino occasions including Christmas. A fresh lumpia wrapper (made up of flour and eggs) is filled with several vegetables like lettuce, ubod (hearts of palm) carrots, and sweet potato. It is then rolled and topped with a sweet soy-based sauce.

    If you want to try making lumpiang sariwa at home, try our Lumpiang Sariwa (with homemade wrapper) Recipe.

14. Crema De Fruta

    
    Crema De Fruta is a Filipino fruitcake made up of layers of sponge cake, fresh or preserved fruits, whipped cream, and gelatin. Its festive appearance makes it a perfect dessert to be served during special occasions like festivals and Christmas.

15. Mango Float

    
    Mango Float is a ref cake made up of layers of graham crackers, fresh mangoes, and cream. It has become a popular Christmas dessert over the past years due to its simplicity and ease of preparation.

    If you want to make this easy dessert at home, try our Easy Mango Graham Float Recipe.

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